Dividing strips for floors



n 1931- P. GALASSI I 1,810,761

DIVIDING STRIPS FOR FLOORS Filed July 24. '1929 q VENTOR "4 I '0 0 v 4 Pas aale Galassi 3.9 M

BY %J\ ATTORNEY Patented June 16, 1931 PATENT OFFICE PASQUALE GALASSI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DIVIDING- STRIPS FOR FLOORS Application filed July 24, 1929. Serial No. 380,669.

This invention relates to dividing strips for terrazzo and similar floors and more particularly refers to improvements in dividing strips consisting of two sections joined together, said sections being made of two different metals.

Terrazzo, granolithic, stucco and similar floors usually comprise a lower or founda tion bed made of concrete or cement or mortar or other suitable material, and an upper or finishing layer generally consisting of a mixture of marble chips and cement,.by means of which a good durable surface may be obtained as well as pleasing designs and color effects of a practically-unlimited variety.

The .upper layer which is. generally placed in position after the foundation layer has been allowed to harden to a sufficient degree of consistency, is generally divided into a number of panels or units in a predetermined arrangement, which are obtained by outliningthe desired design by means of dividing strips placed on ,or through the foundation layer.

These bars are generally made of relatively soft metal such as brass for instance, the wearing qualities of which are approximate- .ly equal to those of the floor itself; and accordingto the nature of the floor and'of the 40 design to be produced, the dividing strips may be of various thicknesses and lengths.

Relatively thin strips may readily be obtained out of sheet metal, and are suitable for floors of moderate size; however, relative- 1y large floors, or floors composed of rela- "tively large units, call for strips having sufficient rigidity to withstand the lateral pressure ofthe material without bulging when thenfioor is laid. These heavier strips are brass being expensive material,their use materially increases the cost of the floor. At times the ornamental features are such as to require extra thick metallic strips showing through the material, and in these cases, the cost is still higher.

In order to keep the cost of the product within reasonable limits therefore, it is important to reduce as much as possible the quantity of material used for the portion of also generally made out of sheetmetal but the strip which is showing through, this be: mg done without however, impairing the usefulness and strength of the product. 7 i In another patent application, entitled Bimetallic floor strip, filed simultaneously herewith, I have described and claimed divid ing strips made of an upper and-a lower sec tion oined along their inner edges by means of rivets or equivalent means.

In still another patent application, entitled Composite floor dividing strips, also filed simultaneously herewith, I have described similar-dividing strips in which the two sections are joined by welding or brazmg or other similar processes. I- have found that when the upper section is thicker than the lower section, the cost of production of such strips may be reduced to a certain extent if other methods of-connecting the two sections of strip are employed.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a dividing strip of the character specified, composedof a relatively thick-upper section and a relatively thin lower sec tion, the lower surface of the upper section belng formed with a longitudinal groove within which the upper edge of the lower section may be inserted and retained.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a dividing strip of the character specified, in which the lower section is provided with anchoring means adapted to retain the strip in position.

A further object is to provide a dividing F strip of the character specified in which the two sections are made out of two different metals, the lower section being notched at spaced intervals in order to effect a further saving in the cost of the material employed.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed in the appended claims.

Various embodiments of my invention are illustrated in'the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a floor strip composed of an upper section provided with a groove along its lower surface, and a lower section having its upper edge inserted and retained therethrough;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of another strip in which the upper section is composed of an upper thicker portion and a lower thinner portion depending therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a strip comprising an upper section having its lower surface provided with a longitudinal groove and a plurality of spaced lugs depending therefrom, said lugs having their upper edges inserted and retained within said groove;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a strip in which the lower section is notched at evenly spaced intervals, said section having an uninterrupted upper edge inserted and retained within the groove of the upper section; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section showing a strip of the type shown in Fig. 1 in position, at the same time illustrating the function of the anchoring means and the positioning function of the lower surface of the upper section of the strip.

In the strip forming the subject of this in vention all riveting and welding or brazing operations are avoided, the two sections of the strip being joined to each other by forcing or wedging the edge of one section within a groove formed in the other section.

For instance, in Fig. 1, 10 designates the upper section of a strip embodying my invention, said upper section being in the form of a relatively thick bar, the height of which preferably coincides with the thickness of the upper layer of the floor in which the strip is to be used.

Said bar is rectangular in shape and is provided with a longitudinal groove 11 along its lower surface 12. The lower section confor instance, open top cut like members such as 14 may be struck off the lower section at spaced intervals, so as to project laterally thereof. I

These cup members will thus securely an chor the strip in position while the lower surface 12 of the upper section will determine the depth at which the line of demarcation between the lower and the upper layers of the fioor.

It is not strictly necessary for the upper section of the strip to have a uniform thickness throughout, since the floor is rarely worn out enough to reach the bottom of the upper layer.

In Fig. 2 therefore, I show a strip built along similar lines, in which however, the upper section 15 is composed of a thicker upper portion 16 and a thinner lower portion 17 and which is, like in the previous case, formed with a longitudinal groove 18 along its lower surface 19. The lower section also in this case consists of a relatively thin strip having its upper edge forced or wedged within groove 18 as shown.

By virtue of the construction described, I produce a strip which is relatively inexpensive although a heavy section of relatively expensive metal will show through the surface of the floor. Further savings may be effected by limiting the amount of material used for the lower section of the strip,

For instance, in Fig. 3, I illustrate a strip in which the upper section 21 is composed like in the previous cases of a solid relatively thick bar having a longitudinally extending groove 22 along its lower surface 23. The lower section of the strip is composed of a plurality of spaced lugs such as 24, 25, said lugs having their upper edges forced or wedged within groove 22 and depending from the upper section.

Lugs 24, 25, etc., are all of an even length and therefore they all together define the total height of the strip. Such lugs may, of course, be formed with anchoring means if desired, such as for instance, ears 26 struck off said lugs and bent laterally thereof.

Another construction of strip in which a saving of material may be effected in the low er section is shown in Fig. 4. In the same 27 designates the upper section formed with a longitudinal groove 28 along its lower sur face 29. The lower section 30 has an uninterrupted upper edge 31 which is forced or wedged within said groove, and is formed with a plurality of spaced lugs 32 depending from its upper edge portion 33.

Lugs 32 are produced by notching the lower portion of said lower section at spaced in tervals as shown at 34, notches 34 being preferably symmetrical with lug 32. In this manner, two lower sections may be obtained from a strip, the total width of which is equal to the height of lugs 32 plus twice the height of upper edge portion 33, as I have explained in another patent application, entitled Floor strip, filed simultaneously herewith.

Also in this case, lugs 32 are preferably provided with anchoring means such as ears 35 struck off therefrom and bent laterally thereof, the lower surface of the upper section acting as positioning means for the strip.

The positioning function of the lower surface of the upper section is illustrated in Fig. 5 where the strip shown in Fig. 1 is inserted in position. In the same it is seen that the lower surface 12 of the upper section 10 defines the line of demarcation 36 between the lower layer 37 and the upper layer 38 of the floor, the lower layer resting upon the floor foundation 39. In said figure the anchoring function of the cup members 14 is also illustrated.

Strips embodying my invention may be made in forms different from those shown, as will be understood; the drawings are therefore intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense. Accordingly, I reserve the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dividing strip for floors comprising a relatively thick upper section and means forming a relatively thin lower section, said upper section having a longitudinal groove in its lower edge portion, said lower section having its upper edge portion secured within said groove, the height of said upper section being such that its lower surface will serve as positioning means for the strip.

2. A dividing strip for floors comprising a relatively thick upper section and means forming a relatively thin lower section,said upper section having a longitudinal groove in its lower edge portion, said lower section having its upper edge portion secured within said groove, said means forming said lower section comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical lugs, the height of said upper section being such that its lower surface will serve as positioning means for the strip.

' PASQUALE GALASSI. 

